Chaka Daley
Dec. 23, 2011
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Chaka Daley, formerly the head coach of the Providence College Friars, has accepted the position of head coach for the University of Michigan men’s soccer team. He becomes the second head coach in the program’s 12-year history.
“We are excited about the leadership that Coach Daley will bring to our men’s soccer program,” said Director of Athletics Dave Brandon. “Chaka has a wealth of experience both as a coach and player at a variety of levels. We welcome him into the Michigan family and Ann Arbor community and look forward to great success for our program under his direction.”
Daley will arrive in Ann Arbor after leading Providence to an 11-8-1 record and an NCAA at-large bid during the 2011 season. The Friars defeated Dartmouth in the opening round of the 2011 tournament. In his 12 seasons at Providence, Daley’s teams collected a 90-111-27 overall record, highlighted by a mark of 72-47-21 over the last seven seasons. He led the Friars to seven consecutive winning seasons and five NCAA Tournament appearances in his final seven seasons. The Friars hosted NCAA Tournament match-ups during the 2010 and 2011 campaigns.
“I am extremely excited and honored to accept the position to coach the men’s soccer team at the University of Michigan. I would like to thank Dave Brandon, Bitsy Ritt and Lisa Savoury for the opportunity to lead a program at one of the great schools not only in America but in the world.”
The 2010 Friars squad made a run during the latter half of the season, reeling off seven consecutive wins and going unbeaten in 10 matches (8-0-2) for the first time since 1984. The Friars earned a berth in the Big East Tournament and notched road victories at Villanova and at No. 1-seed Georgetown to advance to the semifinals. In the semis, the Friars defeated Cincinnati and earned a spot in the championship match for the second time in school history.
Daley was named NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division I New England Coach of the Year in 2005 and was a nominee for NSCAA National Coach of the Year that same season. On Nov. 29, 2011, he was inducted into the New England Soccer Hall of Fame for his prowess on and off the field. Two former Friars have inked professional contracts under Daley’s guidance, goalkeepers Chris Konopka (Kansas City, 2007) and Tim Murray (New England, 2010). Daley had 14 players named to the Big East all-conference teams during his tenure.
Daley graduated from Providence in 1996 after a four-year career, logging matches as a starting defender and a starting forward. He scored nine goals in 69 career matches for the black and white.
A native of Toronto, Ontario, Daley pursued a professional career following his graduation from Providence. He played for the United Soccer League’s Rhode Island Stingrays (1996-97) and spent two seasons with the New England Revolution’s A-League affiliate, the Boston Bulldogs (1998-99). On June 14, 1999, he was promoted to Major League Soccer with the Revolution, and played in a pair of matches during the 1999 season for the Revs.
He was also a member of the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship Committee for five seasons (2003-07). Daley was the regional advisory committee chairperson for New England and was part of the 10-member selection committee for the men’s tournament.
Daley is affiliated with the U.S. Soccer Academy, serving as the head coach or assistant coach for the U16 FC Greater Boston Bolts (1998 to present). He also spent four seasons coaching a U12-15 premier team and worked for two seasons with the U17 U18 Olympic Development Program in Rhode Island.
Daley and his wife, Heather, have a son, Donovan, and a daughter, Savanah.